We are quickly approaching the start of MLB Spring Training. These pre-season games may not hold the same importance as regular season games, but they are fun for fans who want to get an early taste of their favorite team's play. Spring Training kicks off when the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds play on February 26th, and ends on March 29th when the Dodgers play the Angels.
In 2014, a regular season MLB ticket will set you back an average of $114.30, while an average Spring Training ticket will cost only $55.80. That is an average savings of more than 50 percent, which explains why Spring Training games are so popular among fans. Who doesn't want to see their team play at such a discounted price?
One set of preseason games in particular should have Texas baseball fans excited. Big League Weekend in San Antonio takes place on March 28th and 29th. The massive Alamodome will house two games between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. While both teams are from Texas, neither of them calls San Antonio home. These games give Texas baseball fans who can't travel to Houston or Arlington the chance to catch their team at a neutral venue.
The two teams play each other nine times in the regular season, and ticket prices range anywhere from $960 a pop, to a mere $5. On average, tickets to see Rangers vs. Astros in the regular season cost $99.04. Oddly, the rule of cheap Spring Training tickets does not apply to the Big League Weekend in San Antonio.
Regular Season Rangers tickets are priced as cheaply as $5, and go for an average of $95 according to Best Tickets proprietary data. Tickets to the Big League Weekend games are priced as low as $18, and at an average of $105. Game one on the 28th is the cheaper of the two, but with an average ticket price of $99.8, even that game is more expensive than the average Rangers game.
Despite the fact that this is a preseason game, the venue in this situation is what causes tickets to be priced at a premium when compared to the regular season. It is a bit unusual, but it makes sense from the perspective of the San Antonio baseball fan who prefers to drive up the road to see a game rather than across the state of Texas.